Anniversary

This morning Pollie reminded me that today was our two year “sail away” anniversary, and then she added, “and we haven’t killed each other, yet.”

 If you are going to sail away, you have to set a departure date, and then just do it.  We had decided that 10-10-10 was going to be our departure date, and we only missed by seven days.

 

John Harris, one of our Herrington Harbor North marina buddies captured our departure and put together this photo montage, click here to see.  Thanks, John!

 That first trip down the east coast was chilly.  The above picture was in St. Augustine, FL (note the heavy jacket).

Our first Gulf Stream crossing came with a lot of trepidation.  So we waited for a weather window that gave us almost bathtub sea conditions.

Soon, however we were enjoying our first season in the Bahamas.

Serenity served us well for seven years on the Chesapeake and then as our cruising platform for nine months.  Before we left the Bahamas we decided that we loved the lifestyle, but wanted a bigger boat.

With help from Curtis Stokes, Motivator was purchased and Serenity was sold.

So how long will we be “sailing away?”  Only time will tell, and besides, “we haven’t killed each other, yet.”

Duckbill Valves

The repair jobs cruisers find the most unappealing are ones involving the black water system.  Motivator is equipped with VacuFlush heads that are a 3 component system: the bowl assembly, the vacuum accumulator tank (not to be confused with a holding tank) and a vacuum pump.  The vacuum pump has 2 functions: it suctions the air out of the plumbing between the toilet bowl and itself while simultaneously pushing the flush the rest of the way to the tank, or thru-hull.

For guests, we provide written instructions:

Toilet 101, or 10 Steps to Take a Poop

Number 1 (when you are doing #1):

1.    Ensure the VacuFlush switch is in the “ON” position and you have a green light.

2.    After completion of #1, CLOSE THE TOILET SEAT, you do not get to watch.

3.    Step on the foot pedal, count to 5, then let the pedal go.  Do not ease the pedal back, it is spring loaded for a reason.

4.    A red light will appear until the pumping action is completed.

5.    For females, it is best that any toilet paper used with #1 be deposited in the waste can.

Number 2 (when you are doing #2):

1.    Ensure the VacuFlush switch is in the “ON” position and you have a green light.

2.    If you have been especially “productive” add more water to the bowl by lifting the foot pedal.

3.    Limit toilet paper to only 4 squares and deposit in center of bowl.

      A wad of toilet paper will not fit through the 4 duckbill valves!

4.    CLOSE THE TOILET SEAT, you do not want to watch.

5.    Step on the foot pedal, count to 8, then let the pedal go.  Do not ease the pedal back, it is spring loaded for a reason.

6.    A red light will appear until the pumping action is completed.

7.    By lifting the foot pedal add water to the bowl (count to 10).

8.    Repeat step 5 and 6, this cleans the system and helps to prevent odors.

9.    Ensure bowl is clean.

At 12:30 AM last night, the head in the master’s suit suffered fault number 11: 

Because I did not know the last time, if ever, that the duckbill valves had been replaced, I decided that was surely the problem. 

Provided by Dometic Corporation

#18 Duckbill Valves

Other than access (see first photo), the replacement is rather straight forward using the exploded view provided in the owner’s manual.

Oops, wedged in between two duckbill valves was a floss pick.  The dentist can’t say I haven’t been flossing.

Article For: DeFever Cruisers Magazine

Underwater Sculpture Garden

Grenada is known for some great snorkeling and dive sites.

Vicissitudes

Just a couple of miles north of St. George’s in Moilinere Bay is an underwater sculpture garden with reportedly 65 pieces in an area of about 9000 sq feet.

A Mermaid

The sculpture garden is within an area designated as a National Marine Park.

The Lost Correspondent

 Most of the sculptures are in about 15 feet of water.

Faces

Moiliniere Bay suffered considerable storm damage in recent years and the placement of an artificial structure has provided a new base for marine life to proliferate.

Divers off of a commercial boat

The sculptures were also designed to create a diversion from other areas of coral reef currently endangered by over use from water activities.

Grace Reef

Over cocktails the night before, an impromptu snorkeling trip was put together with three other couples in 3 dinghies.

Bill free diving to a sculpture

Bill and JoAnne from Ultra became our unofficial guides because they had been to the site before.

Pollie w/flower in hair

We found it to be an easy but very intriguing snorkeling trip and cannot wait to go back.

JoAnne, always the gracious host, had snacks ready for when we came out of the water.

A special thanks to Izzy St. Clair on the Izzy R for the great photographs.